Storey hoping for a happy ending
Australia earlier this year and he was was left fighting back the tears on the podium. After 101 gruelling laps and a tough start to the 2016 season, he and co-driver Peter Hackett had combined for a morale boosting result. In a world class field of drivers, Storey and Hackett had delivered a world class performance.
Watching on that day was Storey’s family, while alongside him on the podium was van Gisbergen (who passed Storey in the closing laps to claim second), adding to the sense of occasion with just a hint of relief.
‘‘It was our first proper outing,’’ Storey explains. ‘‘A podium amongst a field that was of international standard was pretty exciting.’’ Success at Phillip Island followed a tough weekend in Adelaide in March, where Hackett crashed the big Mercedes-AMG GT3 and ended the Eggleston Motorsport team’s weekend at the opening Australian GT Championship round of the year.
‘‘I think that it helped us all to realise where we’re at and what we needed to do,’’ Storey reasons.
‘‘It made us realise that it’s more about being consistent and being there at the end of the race than trying to be in the lead at the first lap. We took that approach at Phillip Island and we took it again at Sydney in round two.’’
Another strong finish at the second round of the AEC at Sydney Motorsport Park kept Storey in the title fight with two rounds remaining. For Storey, those final two events carry extra importance as the New Zealand leg of the championship sees the Auckland-born racer competing on home soil.
‘‘A lot of my support and sponsors come from New Zealand,’’ he explains. ‘‘I’m looking forward to being able to show off what we can do and how Australian GT works. It’s going to be a good showcase of the future of motorsport in this part of the world because I think GT racing is where it’s at.’’
Storey is also looking forward to the challenge of coming to grips with the newly extended Hampton Downs circuit. Familiar with the original layout, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver believes the recently completed redevelopment has transformed it into a world class facility.
‘‘Hampton Downs has always been good to me,’’ he says. ‘‘I’ve had some good results there in the past. While it was a great facility before Tony Quinn took it over I think now it’s a world-class facility. The old track was just a little bit too small but the new extension looks very challenging and quite technical, so it will be interesting to see how it flows into the old part of the circuit.’’
Together with Hackett, who is the third most successful driver in Australian GT history and unlucky not to have at least one title to his name, they form a strong and balanced driver combination. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has proved itself a race winning car and the Eggleston team one of the best in the business, for Storey the events at Hampton Downs and Highlands provide him the perfect opportunity to secure the biggest results of his career, with the added benefit of doing it on home soil.
‘‘We’re the dark horse for the championship but I know I’ve got the experience to win at this level and it would be great to do it here in New Zealand.’’